|
Dear IARF Friends,
Although the Spring (Vernal) Equinox happened on March 20th at 9:01 UTC this year, we are still celebrating its dawning with celebrations of joy and hope.
Our religious traditions and spiritual groups have expressed insights about its meaning and symbolism across the centuries.
Passover, Easter, Ramadan, Holi, Vesak, Ostara, Nowruz, Haru Matsuri and so many more!
Renewal, rebirth, purification, spiritual awakening.
All point our human species to grow spiritually into something better.
This Spring is especially meaningful for me as I return from a medical leave with amazing energy, joy and hope.
But how can that be?
We are fully in a dystopia that comes from the worst characteristics of our species.
Humans have mastered aggression, greed, deceit, and an endless list of skills to use against each other, our planet, and life itself.
Our ideologies including religion have all failed.
The exception is a glimmer of light in every one of our spiritual traditions.
That light, metaphorically that dawning of Spring, is what every one of our traditions point to: a liberating message that we can be more than a mean and destructive species.
We can freely grow together in our own ways to be compassionate, better, more beautiful in spirit and truth, kinder.
Please forgive me for not sharing with you the pictures and videos of the Winter celebrations of IARF groups (especially Christmas in India from our various members there).
It was the beginning of a long period of illness from which I gratefully believe that I've been healed.
So, please remember to send some pictures and accounts of your Spring celebrations.
I will happily share them with all our members. And please remember to visit our website,
iarf.net,
for latest news, courses of the Free Religion Institute, and to get in touch with fellow IARF members.
|
As Kumu Glen Kila says in Hawai'i,
Aloha nui loa,
George Williams
IARF President
|
|
